Industrial Architecture
Industrial Architecture also known as the “Architecture of Engineers” is a the result of industrial
revolution.
Industrial Revolution – changed the scenario with regards to reliance to natural materials.
-mass production
-new inventions
-Machines
Iron Production (1900’s) 40,000,000 tons produced
Three forms
-cast irons- most basic
-wrought iron
-steel-most refine
Britain – the most important country during industrial revolution because they have the mi9nerals to
produce metal. They have lucrative iron industry.
- First to build iron bridges.
Iron Bridges and Railroads- These are known as the humble structures because it provided the ideas to
architects the possibility of iron as building material.
Severn Bridge, England (1755-1779)
Designer- Abraham Darby
First Arch Bridge made out of cast iron in history; 376 of tons of iron
Before, bridges are just made up of vertical supports, but in this bridge, it incorporated arches or
arch forms which reminds as of the classical theme of architecture.
Series of arches connecting on an aqueduct. A watercourse constructed to carry water from a
source to a distribution point far away.
The significance of this bridge is that it make used of iron for the first time as construction material.
The method of construction of this building was based on carpentry where bolts are used to fasten
half-ribs.
Sunderland Bridge, England (1793-1796)
-Planned by American writer Thomas Paine
-Built by Robert Burdon
-72 meters span, made of small cast iron components connected by wrought
Significance - Combination of two irons that allow longer span bridges. It provided architect how to
use iron metals as building material.
Bridge over Menai Straits, Wales (1848)
Designer-Robert Stephenson
-consist of pure beam construction of steel web plate girders.
- Steel as building material allowed it to span longer distances (140 meter rectangular iron tubes)
-pylons are masonry but the connection is made of steel.
-The bridge is somewhat modern and very tubular but amidst of its minimalist look there was still
classical about it because of the sculptures at the end of this bridge. There are four lions, two at
each end.
Significance-the usage of steel shows improvement of iron as building material.
Conway Castle Bridge (1822-1826)
Designed by Thomas Telford
-the first iron suspension bridges made possible by the tensile strength of steel.
- 99.7 m span.
-The sag part is the steel components that carry the bridges and because of these there are lesser
masonry support in between.
Significance- suspension bridge
Iron and steel skeleton construction
Having seen the application of iron such as wrought iron and steel in the construction of the
engineering works (railroads, bridges, etc.), Architects began being CURIOUS. If these Irons can be
used in bridges, they think that it might be used to buildings. Therefore, during this time there was
an attempt of using iron as STRUCTURAL MATERIAL not just a minor part of a building but a very
important building material
St. Louis Riverfront buildings, USA (1850)
- First building that uses iron as structural material.
-The cast Iron column was the first structural building material produced by the new industrial methods.
-meaning the cast iron columns during this time was mass produced.
Significance- because of these buildings, the iron as building material became popular, more available
and more buildings being applied. That is why 1850-1890 is known as “cast iron age” in US with
construction of commercial buildings with cast-iron fronts and cast-iron skeleton.
Because of the popularity of using cast Iron during this time, it became more significant part of the
buildings. The construction incorporated even more of cast iron into the design. There was an
emergence of cast iron skeleton construction method which was invented by James Bogardus.
The Harper and Brothers Building
James is best known of this building because of making use of skeleton construction made of cast iron.
The advantages of cast iron construction.
-further open up the building.
-introduced more windows compared to load bearing construction.
-more efficient support because of its tensile quality.
Menier Chocolate Works, Noisiel, SurMarne (1871-1872)
Designed by: Jules Saulnier
- Considered as a pioneer example of a full skeleton frame construction.
- Observation on the date of construction: The construction period has become shorter because
of the mass produce compared to previous buildings.
- In its outer walls, exposed slender iron members enclose polychrome brickwork which shows
diagonal bracing of iron frame giving a “half-timber work” effect.
Known Pioneers of This Construction Type (Iron construction)
HENRI LABROUSTE (1801-1875)
- French Architect who study Ancient Roman monuments to secure the “spirit behind each
construction”
- Particular on function of the building
“In architecture, form must always be appropriate to the function for which it is intended”
His works:
Library of Saint Genevieve (1843-1855)
-Represents first attempt to fully use cast and wrought iron in an important public building.
-shows traditional masonry construction transformed by new technology and use of traditional
forms even with new possibilities from iron material.
-It has a renaissance ambiance it’s like a palazzo
- This is an example of a public building that had an application of two iron skeleton construction
- The walls are no longer load bearing compared to renaissance palazzo which is load bearing.
-The exterior walls became a curtain because the structural purpose of this building is made possible
by the iron framing inside.
- Iron has also an advantage of recreating traditional forms like arches, classical columns,
ornaments, and brackets making use of iron and not stone.
Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (1858-1868)
-reading room covered by 9 pendentive terracotta domes with “eye” at the crown to allow natural
lighting, supported by slender cast iron
- Because of the skeleton construction there was no need to put very thick, very bulky columns right
at the center of the library.
- classical elements are being recreated making used of the new material (iron).
Example is the columns and vaults which emphasizes slim and elegant forms, the sculpture face of
the person its like being sculpted but it is just metal.
- Magasin central is top-lit and has slatted metal floors; room is built to accommodate 90000
volumes and covered by glass ceiling.
GREAT EXHIBITIONS
With an expansion of industries and influx of new inventions, there was a need for venues for
showcasing new products.
1st international exhibition-1851 in London by Prince Consort Albert and Sir Henry Cole.
London Exhibition
The Crystal Palace (1851)
By Archt. John Paxton- not really and architect but an estate manager and a gardener
- First use of building prefabrication; design planned around the largest standard sheet of glass
available that time, 1.20 m long.
- House the Great Exhibition in Hdye Park and later transferred to Sydenham.
- Paxton drew a 560m x 137m x 30 +m plan of building in 9 days after none of the 245 entries in a
design competition was accepted.
- Changes are made on nave, being given a barrel vault after it was re-erected in Sydenham.
- The barrel vault is made to adapt from the existing trees in Sydenham so that there will be no
cutting of trees, the barrel vault is to accommodate the height of that tree inside
- Resembled a double-aisle basilica on section rising in 3 tiers: lowest at 124.4 meters wide, next
(inner aisles) 80.4 m and nave 36.5m.
Paris Exhibition of 1889
1. Gallery of the Machines
2. Eiffel Tower
3. Fine Arts Building
4. 4. Liberal Arts Building
5. Great Exhibition Center
Plan
The Eiffel tower serves as the entry way to the exhibition. From the Eiffel tower, you will be led to the
courtyard and then at both sides of the courtyard you have the fine arts building and the liberal arts
building. Proceed further, you will see the u-shaped building which is the main exhibition center. Then,
right at the back part of that area is the gallery of the machines. The Eiffel tower and the gallery of the
machines made used of iron and steel construction.
Gallery of the Machines
- The rear most building and its very longitudinal
- A collaborative work of an architect and an engineer
- Designed by Charles Ferdinand Dutert with engineer Victor Contamin
- 420 meters long with an unsupported span of 115m (the Arch span); first time such span had
ever been bridged.
- This is a highlight in terms of iron and steel construction because of its span.
- Rational Type design since it is an exhibit hall (main principle is flexibility and transparency).
- The flat arch is composed of 20 arch process.
- Four centered Arches of steel hinged at the apex and base; unusual combination of forms
conveyed technique and function working together.
- Good example of application of steel and iron since it is possible to counter act the expansion of
metal when there are changes in temperature.
- The whole building is being constructed on the concept of rollers.
- The base is not fully grounded, it exhibits the gracefulness of the material
The Eiffel Tower
- The entrance but now more of a monument
- Interpretation of the soaring spirit of the community after they taking down the rulers and then
democracy was restored.
- Not really designed by architect but it was designed by an engineer but undergo into a design
competition.
- Triangular tower wherein the structural iron and steel was fully exposed.
- Designed by Gustave Eiffel an engineer who won the competition.
- 305-meter-high structure embodied Eiffel’s experience with foundations and supports against
intricates of earth and wind
- Four pylons anchored to separate foundations. It has a stone foundation at the base before the
steel.
- Elevators run in support’s interiors as far as second level then one elevator to the third
- A monumental entrance that commemorate the anniversary of French revolution. The French
revolution was a very key event of the history of France.
- The Parisian actually had a very negative reaction to it because the monument is exposing a
material that is not accepted by the many as construction material.
- Iron and steel in this time was regarded as false material and were not meant as to be flaunted
however Gustave flaunted the new material in his work.
The used of steel and iron construction became a very good manager of construction time because it is
shorter compared to masonry.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
